Printing-surface and method of making same.



No. 782,184. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. W. J. YEOELL.

PRINTING SURFACE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29,1904.

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UNTTED STATES Eatented February '7, 1905.

\VILLIAH J. YEOELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRINTING-SURFACE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,184, dated February 7, 1905.

Application filed August 29, 1904. Serial No. 222,646.

To (LU whom, t 'HHI/LI/ (OILCPI'ILI Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. YnonLL, of New York, N. Y., have invented certain improvements in Printing-Surfaces and Methods of Making Same, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings designating like parts.

This invention relates to printing-surfaces, and has for its object the production of a printing-surface free from pits, crevices, and acute angles throughout its area and presenting smooth uniformly plane printing portions with clearly-defined boundaries, these ii11pl'(I)\0Ili8Il'tS over existing surfaces being of special advantage when embodied in a pliable sheet-metal 1.)rinting-surface of the sort forming the subject-matter of my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 208,632, filed May 18, 1904:, although I contemplate the embodiment of various of the improvements in printing-surfaces made up of movable type and in any other field to which my improvements may be applicable by reason of their nature.

In a printing-surface or form of common printers type assembled with squareheaded spaces between the words and lines of type the crevices in the type-faces and in the angles between adjacent type, words, and lines afford lodging-places for ink and foreign substances, and the acute angles tend to tear stereotype and other matrices when applied thereto. ln stereotyping great annoyance occurs from defects in casting, owing to the extent of surface cast and the impossibility of removing easily and replacingdefective portions. Half-tones and other etched surfaces have characteristic and very prejudicial surface roughnesses, owing to the uneven action of the acid or etching medium upon the varying grain of the metal, often undercutting the dots of the half-tone plate and the relief printing-surface of other plates, thereby impairing the printing and reproductive qualities of such surfaces. To

alleviate these difficulties of operation incidental to the tendency to engage crevlces, pits, roughnesses, and the like, elaborately-laminated matrix materials have been devised with close-grained faces, stiff backing layers, and soft intervening packing layers, and extra layers for other functions, this complex matrix being applied moist and baked in place upon the type or other surface to be reproduced, according to the most approved practice at the present day. and even then it fremiently happens that the matrix is engaged by the defects above enumerated. lllcctrotypes present less roughnesses usually, but are not entirely free from unevenness, and have the acute angular-ities and square interstices characteristic of the type and many of the roughnesses of the halftones they reproduce, while the expense of their production and the time consumed are excessive. The absence of a satisfactory printing-surface requiring less time and skill in its production than the electrotype has led in the case of half-tones to the use of etched halftone male and female steel dies,'between which a metal plate is stamped, with considerable initial outlay of time in preparing the dies, disadvantageous shock in the stamping operation, and a result which while favorable in point of quantity of product is not uniform and does not improvein quality upon thedies, which possess of necessity the characteristic etching roughnesses already set forth.

Briefly stated, my improvement in the art of producing printable replicas direct from the original type, clectrotype, half-tone, and engraved, or other relief or intaglio forms eliminates the necessity for an engraved, etched, cast, or otherwise prepared metal c'ooperating die and is preferably carried into effect by rolling a sheet of metal or suitable material between said type or other form and a blanket of pulpy material.

A sheet of metal can be treated in accordance with my invention to present on its relief side a smooth, uniformly plane surface replication of the type or other printing-surface on which it was formed and superior to said original in printingqualities. Moreover, intermediate the relief printing characters, Whether they be dots, lines, or extended surfaces, the sheet-n'ietal replica will have deep rounded interstitial concavities, so that a stereotype or other matrix can actually be made in the usual way from my replica more readily than from the original type-form with its rectangular 'interspaces and acute angles or the rough half-tone or other etched plate. For the same reason a sheet-metal replica produced by my novel method from the ordinary Zinc half-tone plate presents a smoother surface throughout both its printing and non-printing portions, so that it improves in printing qualities over its original, having ideal smooth flat printing portions and intervening spaces which do not retain ink and tend to fill up. Conversely, upon its intaglio side such a replica presents smooth intaglio portions corresponding to the printing portions of the original and rounded interstitial convexities, so that the replica constitutes in itself an ideal matrix into which can be formed by rolling, pressing, casting, brushing, or otherwise stereotype or other metal or material suitable to form a secondary replica, such as a stereotype-plate or another thin replica sheet. If the replica be placed in a curved stereotypecasting box and stereotype metal cast into it, a stereotype-plate with a perfect smooth printing-surface results, and after use the curved plate may be placed in the meltingpot, the stereotype metal melted, and the zinc or other replica floated 01f uninjured and may be filed away for future reference or sent by mail or otherwise for use elsewhere, this being one of the exceeding important capabilities ofmy invention. Analogous thereto is the treatment of the replica, as already suggested, by brushing into its intaglio side sufficient hot metal to fill up the depressions and aid in rendering the plate rigid without increasing its weight unduly or rendering it inflexible, the plate thus formed being mailable at low expense. If the replica be of Zinc it may have molten zinc brushed or otherwise applied to it, and other metals may be reinforced in kind to form an integral plate of homogeneous material. Otherwise copper, 620., may be eleotrodeposited quickly into the recesses of copper or the like, and aluminium may be cast into aluminium or other metal. As the intaglio side fits snugly upon the type original, advantage may be taken of this to press tin-foil or other soldering or similar medium into, say, a brass or copper replica, so that when the common fusible metal used to back electrotypes is poured in it will form speedily perfect and complete union with the replica throughout its area and leave no airholes or other imperfections. A replica thus backed may be trimmed and mounted just like an electrotype, but needs no truing-up, dressing, overlay, or other manipulation ordinarily.

and substitute in my blanket a homogeneous material analogous to a pulpy paper, presenting a relatively soft face to receive the impression of the type or other original, and having preferably an integral harder stratum to limit the degree of entrance of the type and insure the formation of a homogeneous, smooth, flat, and clearly-defined printing portion upon the replica. This makes an admirable matrix material for general use, and I claim it as such. 1 find it convenient at times to introduce into the material of the blanket a medium tending to enable a sharper impression of the original to be secured therein, and guttapercha, rubber, lac, gypsum, or the like may be used, according to the definition required by the subject, a solution of one of the above materials serving when applied upon one side of the blanket not only to permeate the latter, but also to form by deposition the stratum already mentioned. The blanket material may be freshened up after use and utilized'a plurality of times, if desired.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated fully in the accompanying drawings and may be understood thoroughly from the specification read in connection with the foregoing general description, together with the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in vertical section apparatus adapted to produce printing-surfaces in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 shows in section a replica embodying my improvements. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a form of type and portion of a half-tone plate from which a replica such as that illustrated in Fig. 2 can be produced. Fig. a shows in section a replica embodying my improvements formed from the half-tone plate shown in Fig. i. Fig. 5 shows the replica of Fig. 2 backed, trimmed, and mounted. Fig. 6 shows the replica of Fig. 2 with its intaglio portions on thereverse side filled. Fig. 7 shows in section a curved stereotype-plate provided with a replica-surface embodying my improvements. Fig. 8 shows in section a replica provided with a soldering medium. Fig. 9 is a similar view of two replicas produced at one operation, and Fig. 10 shows in section a blanket of my improved construction.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description as a convenient form to enable a ready and complete understanding of my improvements the referencenumerals 1 and 2 designate a couple of rolls indicated diagrammatically and which may be suitably mounted and driven, 3 designatinga bed traveling between the rolls and arranged to receive the type or other form or original 4, from which it is desired to produce the printable replicas, a chase 5 of well-known character being illustrated to hold the type.

The numeral 7 designates a sheet of thin copper. brass, zinc, steel, aluminium, or other suitable material which is to receive theimpression of the form, and 6 designates the blanket superimposed upon the sheet 7.

Upon starting the rolls the bed 3, with the form 4:, sheet 7, and blanket 6, will be drawn through the couple, which will be set, preferably, to exert a relatively light pressure to be determined by the character of the work. The form, sheet, and blanket may, if necessary, and preferably will, be drawn through again, the rolls being set up toward each other into approximately the position shown with respect to the rolls 8 and 9, which latter may be considered a second set to act on the form, sheet, and blanket for the second impression without the necessity for reciprocation of the bed 3. Additional couples of rolls may be added to give a narrower bight. If desired, the blanket 6 may be placed directly upon the form.1 and run through the rolls to receive a preliminary impression before they are run through with the sheet 7. After the replica T has been stripped from the form L it will be in the shape shown in Fig. 2, and it may be backed, trimmed, mounted, and otherwise manipulated just as an electrotype-shell is treated, but with greater ease, as the sheet metal is more homogeneous and is less porous than electrodeposited metal. Inasmuch as inaccuracies in the level or make-up of the type or other form can be corrected by overlays or make-ready during the rolling or pressing of the sheet metal in a manner well-known to all skilled in the printing art and not requiring description herein, I find that the metal replica can usually be backed, trimmed, and mounted at once and with but little need for manipulation and gives a perfect printingblock, as illustrated in Fig. 5, where the replica T has the usual backing 10 of soft metal and is tacked at 11 to the wooden block 12.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section, on an enla rged scale, of the type original, (shown in Fig. 1,) and the square inter-space between each type and the crevices 13 necessarily existing between the individual type 11 and intervening spacing devices 15 appear clearly, so that the contrast is well shown with my sheetmetal replica 7 in the neighboring Fig. 2, where the square interspaces and crevices of the type disappear and are replaced by the rounded interstitial concavities 16, merging without acute angles into the smooth and, in fact, highly'polished printing portions 17, the faces whereof are uniformly flat and their boundaries clearly defined, so that they present an ideal printing-surface,as it will retain ink on its printing portions and not elsewhere.

In Fig. 1 I show a half-tone plate 18, the etched surface whereof exhibits the characteristic roughness of etched surfaces, and in Fig. 1 I have shown a metal replica 57 from the half-tone surface 19 produced by my process.

In this replica the roughnesses disappear, and the replica 57 shows the qualities of smoothness, &c., already described in greater degree asan improvementover the original half-tone than the replica 7 shows improvement over its type original.

In Fig. 6 I illustrate a replica 27, into the intaglio portions 20 of which has been brushed a filling 21 of molten zinc in a pasty state or at a temperature too low to injure the replica, the replica 27 in this instance being of zinc, so that a strong homogeneous one-metal plate is available, thin, light,and mailable at low cost.

Fig. 7 shows a zinc replica 37, which has been placed in a casting-box and provided with a backing 22 of stereotype metal, so that the curved stereotype-plate thus produced has an ideal printing-surface separable from the backing, which may be melted off without injury to the surface and the latter filed away or other disposition made thereof.

In backing the replicas a foil or soldering medium may be used to advantage, as shown in Fig. 8, where 47 designates the replica, in this instance of brass, and 23 a layer of tinfoil pressed upon the same original type as the replica 47, into which therefore it fits exactly, so that when molten backing metal is introduced against the foil the latter fuses at once and a perfect complete union of the backing with the replica is effected throughout the area thereof. Either the replica or the uniting medium, or both, may be coated with a suitable flux 24:, such as muriatic acid, if desired, before being united.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated two metal replicas produced at the same time by feeding two superimposed sheets of metal 67 77 through the rolls between the type andblanket.

One embodiment of my improved blanket is shown in Fig. 10, where the reference-numeral 28 designates the homogeneous pulpy or felted paper or analogous material of which the blanket is composed and which presents a relatively soft face 29 to receive the impression 30, while 31 designates the harder stratum acting to limit the degree of entrance of the type into the face and to cause the production of highly-compacted smooth inner faces 32 in the impressions, so that the replica will derive therefrom perfectly smooth flat printing portions. The lighter portion of the blanket at the left of Fig. 10 indicatesa portion which has not been treated, while at the right of Fig. 10 the darkened portion indicates the sharpening mcdium--such as gutta-percha, rubber, lac, or thelikethe presence of which insures resistance of the face 29, its entrance into the intaglio portions of the type, and consequent definition in the replica. In this instance the harder stratum 31 is formed by deposition of the sharpening medium in a solution passed through the material 28 from the back.

IlO

. I v V A fresh blanket may be used for each repl printable replicas direct from type or the like,

lica, or a blanket once impressed may be used many times, both in connection with my improved process and for general matrix purposes.

Having described my invention thus fully and convenient means by which to carry my improvements into effect, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific apparatus, material, or sequence of operations selected for illustration and description nor in general otherwise than as set forth in my claims read in connection with this specification.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a replica swaged over printable type or the like, presenting on its relief surface a printable replication of the type or other relief surface over which said replica was swaged, said replica printing-surface having rounded interstitial concavities in the non-printing portions of individual letters and words,and between lines or other printing characters, and said printing characters having uniformly plane smooth printing-surfaces with clearly-defined boundaries, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture'a thin metallic replica-plate swaged up over printable type or the like and presenting on its relief surface a printable replication of the type or other relief surface over which said replica was swaged, said replica printing-surface having rounded interstitial concavities in the nonprinting portions of individual letters and words, and between lines or other printing characters,and said printing characters having uniformly plane smooth printingsurfaces with clearly-defined boundaries, said replicaplate being provided with a metallic backing, substantially as described.

3. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas direct from type and engraved, or other relief or intaglio forms, without an engraved, etched, cast or otherwiseprepared metal cooperating die, said improvement consisting in rolling a sheet of suitable material between said type or other form and a blanket, to swage in said material relief printing characters, with rounded interstitial concavities in allthe non-printing portions of individual characters and of the extended intervening spaces, substantially as described.

4:. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas direct from type or the like, said improvement consisting in rolling a sheet of suitable material between said type or the like and a blanket of a pulpy character, to swage in said sheet material a printable replication of said type, with rounded concavities in the non-printing portions of individual letters and words, and between lines, substantially as described.

5. That improvement in the art of producing said improvement consisting in rollinga sheet of metal between said type or the like and a blanket of a pulpy character, to sw'age in said sheet metal a relief printable replication presenting characters having uniformly flat, smooth printing-surfaces with clearly-defined boundaries, substantially as described.

6. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas direct from type or the like, said improvement consisting in pressing a sheet of suitable material into the interstices and over the relief portions of said type or the like through the medium of a blanket of a pulpy character between which and said type, or the like, said sheet is embraced and caused to assume a printingsurface presenting a series of relief printing characters having uniformly flat, smooth printing-surfaces with clearly-defined boundaries and rounded interstitial concavities, substantially as described.

7 That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas consisting in pressing a sheet of metal between type or the like and a blanket of pulpy material containing asharpening medium, substantially as described.

8. Thatimprovementinthe art ofproducing printable replicas consisting in pressing a sheet of metal between type or the like and a pulpy paper containing a solution of lac, or similar sharpening medium, substantially as described.

9. Thatimprovementinthe artof producing printable replicas, consisting in pressing type or-the like into a blanket of material of the character of paper-pulp, and pressing between said type and the blanket thus impressed a sheet of metal to receive the impression of said type and present a relief printable replication thereof in printing characters having uniformly fiat, smooth printing-surfaces with clearly-defined boundaries, substantially as described.

10. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas, consisting in pressing a sheet of suitable material between type or the like and a blanket of suitable material, removing said sheet, and thereafter pressing between said type and said blanket thus impressed another sheet of material suitable to form a printable replica, substantially as described.

11. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas consisting in pressing between type or the like and a blanket of pulpy paper or other suitable material, a plurality of sheets of material suitable to form printable replicas, thereby producing separable replicas presenting respectively relief printing characters and rounded interstitial concavities, substantially as described.

12. That improvement in the art of producing printable replicas consisting in pressing a sheet of metal between type or the like and a blanket presenting a relatively soft surface toward the type and having a harder stratum to press said metal firmly against the face of sairl type, thereby to force the metal deep into the intaglio portion of said type, insuring definition in the replica and also insuring a smooth, uniformly plane printable surface replication 0 t the printing-surface of said type.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of August, A. D. 1904.

\V'ILLIAH J. YEOELL.

\Vitnesses: ALEXANDER C. PRoUDFrr, EDWIN FRENCH. 

